Fri Jun 20 09:36:56 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Los Angeles Lakers 2008 Draft Preview

---

(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers do not have a first-round selection in this year's draft, and will not get any significant help with the 58th overall pick.

LA made it back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2004. The Lakers fell in six games to the Celtics and failed to capture their 15th title in franchise history.

MVP Kobe Bryant had a great regular season. A 10-time All-Star, Bryant led the Lakers in scoring (28.3 ppg) and assists (5.4 apg). He shot 45.9 percent from the field, including 36.1 percent from beyond the arc.

LA became one of the elite teams in the league when it pulled off one of the big trades of the 2007-08 campaign. On February 1, the Lakers acquired seven- foot Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for center Kwame Brown, guard Javaris Crittenton, guard Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first round picks in 2008 and 2010.

Pau Gasol was huge for the Lakers. He worked very well with Bryant and the rest of his teammates. Add Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and a healthy Andrew Bynum to the mix, and the Lakers look like an elite squad. Pau Gasol averaged 18.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in 27 games for the Lakers during the regular season.

Bynum was averaging 13.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in 35 games before he went down with a partially dislocated left kneecap and a bone bruise. The 20-year- old Bynum last played on January 13 against the Grizzlies.

A healthy Bynum makes the Lakers the favorite to once again represent the Western Conference in the 2009 NBA Finals. It will most likely be a quiet offseason for the Lakers.

2007-08 Results: 57-25, lost to Boston in the NBA Finals.

Key Player(s): Trevor Ariza (Forward), Kobe Bryant (Guard), Andrew Bynum (Center), Jordan Farmar (Guard), Pau Gasol (Center/Forward), Lamar Odom (Forward), Vladimir Radmanovic (Forward), Ronny Turiaf (Forward), Luke Walton (Forward).

Team Needs: Toughness in the low post.

Draft picks: 2nd round (58th overall).